Chapter 15: Scientific Revolution - "The Question of Origins: Why Europe?"
In Chapter 15 under the section “A New Way of Thinking: The Birth of Modern Science,” Strayer writes about “The Question of Origins: Why Europe?” “Science as Cultural Revolution.” “Science and Enlightenment.” For this post, I will focus on “The Question of Origins: Why Europe?” section, specifically responding to the comparison sidebar question: “Why did the Scientific Revolution occur in Europe rather than in China or the Islamic world” (p. 665)?
The Scientific Revolution occurred in Europe rather than in China or the Islamic world because the western Europeans were ready to challenge the knowledge of others cultures in addition to having a well established legal system and autonomous universities which set them up for success.
Several centuries after 1000 in China, the Confucianism culture was considered sophisticated and secular for that time period. It didn’t have as much religious dogma such as in Christianity and Islam and its technological accomplishments and economic growth were unmatched. But Europeans questioned its rigid education on the civil service examinations and humanistic and moral texts of classical Confucianism.
Between 800 and 1400, the Islamic world had much better libraries than Europe and were considered the most advanced science in the world because of the Arabs scholars achievements in mathematics, astronomy, optics and medicine. But Europeans thought the Islamic world philosophy and natural science teachings were suspicious.
Despite China's and the Islamic world's uniquenesses, Europeans knew it was the right time for new discoveries. The Scientific Revolution was created by the Polish Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, the Italian Astronomer Galileo, the French Philosopher Descartes, English Mathematician Newton and many others. By the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Europe’s legal system was already formed and by the sixteenth century when the Scientific Revolution began, it was well established. It provided the supporting system needed by guaranteeing a measure of independence for the Church, towns and cities, guilds, professional associations, and universities. With this legal system working smoothly, Europeans were able to utilize autonomous universities to concentrate on their studies. Universities like the ones in Paris, Bologna, Oxford, Cambridge, and Salamanca were recognized as corporations of masters and scholars. They had libraries and space Europeans needed to study away from the dictatorship of the church or state authorities so they were considered “the neutral zones of intellectual autonomy” (p. 666). No wonder their discoveries marked the emergence of Modern Science allowing us a new way of understanding our universe. By the twentieth century, science lost the association with Europe and became universal world view just like Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.
The Scientific Revolution occurred in Europe rather than in China or the Islamic world because the western Europeans were ready to challenge the knowledge of others cultures in addition to having a well established legal system and autonomous universities which set them up for success.
Several centuries after 1000 in China, the Confucianism culture was considered sophisticated and secular for that time period. It didn’t have as much religious dogma such as in Christianity and Islam and its technological accomplishments and economic growth were unmatched. But Europeans questioned its rigid education on the civil service examinations and humanistic and moral texts of classical Confucianism.
Between 800 and 1400, the Islamic world had much better libraries than Europe and were considered the most advanced science in the world because of the Arabs scholars achievements in mathematics, astronomy, optics and medicine. But Europeans thought the Islamic world philosophy and natural science teachings were suspicious.
Despite China's and the Islamic world's uniquenesses, Europeans knew it was the right time for new discoveries. The Scientific Revolution was created by the Polish Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, the Italian Astronomer Galileo, the French Philosopher Descartes, English Mathematician Newton and many others. By the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Europe’s legal system was already formed and by the sixteenth century when the Scientific Revolution began, it was well established. It provided the supporting system needed by guaranteeing a measure of independence for the Church, towns and cities, guilds, professional associations, and universities. With this legal system working smoothly, Europeans were able to utilize autonomous universities to concentrate on their studies. Universities like the ones in Paris, Bologna, Oxford, Cambridge, and Salamanca were recognized as corporations of masters and scholars. They had libraries and space Europeans needed to study away from the dictatorship of the church or state authorities so they were considered “the neutral zones of intellectual autonomy” (p. 666). No wonder their discoveries marked the emergence of Modern Science allowing us a new way of understanding our universe. By the twentieth century, science lost the association with Europe and became universal world view just like Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.
Reference:
Photos: https://www.britannica.com/science/Scientific-Revolution#/media/1/528960/139158
Strayer, R. (2016). Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. Bedford/St. Martin's
Photos: https://www.britannica.com/science/Scientific-Revolution#/media/1/528960/139158
Strayer, R. (2016). Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. Bedford/St. Martin's
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